Little Joe sat at the breakfast table with Hoss, Adam, and Pa. He knew from the awkward silence that he was going to get it. He had been at the saloon last night playing poker and lost a great deal of money.

'' Joseph just how much money did you lose last night,'' Pa said with a look in his eye that meant he was angry.

'' Welllllll about $1,000,'' Joe said with the look of terror in his eyes.

'' You are going to pay back all that dept and not come crying to me about it.''

'' Well Pa i kinda made the check out in your name so.''

'' Fine you will work for me until it is all paid back. Do you understand?"

" Yes sir!"

Never in his life had Joe seen his Pa so mad. It was almost like the time when he broke the windowpane. Joe knew what his Pa was going to do. He was going to make him work sun up til sun could not blame his Pa for being mad. He had this one coming.

'' Joe I want you to go and brand the cattle that are above the ridge."

So Joe hopped on Cochise, his black and white paint horse and hurried to get out if sight.

" Howdy little brother," Hoss said with a smile. " Care to join us."

" Yeah we have to hurry so we came be done by the time Pa's friends get here from New Orleans," Adam said.

" Friends what friends? I wonder if Pa's friends have a daughter," Joe said with a smile.

" Joe get to work,'' Adam said!

So Joe and his brothers started branding the cattle, Hoss holding the animal down, Joe branding it, and Adam getting the next animal.

When they were done it was 7:00 and they had to go home to get ready for the company. Each of them took baths, combed their hair, and wore a tie. Joe put on a little cologne to make an impression on the ladies that we possibly going to be there.

They made their way down stairs only to find a man and what looked like his daughter to be sitting on the couch. He was a tall, skinny man with what looked like to be an army outfit on. She was tall like her father, had golden blonde hair, and baby blue eyes. Boy she was a sight.

Here's what she thought of them. The bigger one looked alright except for the calluses and dirt all over him. The tall one and probably the oldest looks kind of full of himself and acts like he is the boss. The one in the green coat is charming and boy oh boy how he is looking at me.

" Harold these are my boys, Adam, Hoss, and Joe," Ben said with a smile.

'' Pleased to meet you,'' Harold said.

" Boys this is Sofia his daughter."

" What a pleasure to meet you miss Sofia."

" Howdy miss"

" When did the Ponderosa get so pretty."

The boys all said this at the same time and it made Sofia blush. Then Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and announced that dinner was ready. They all ate the meal of lamb chops, french bread, salad, and mashed potatoes. The whole time the boys could not take their eyes off Sofia.

When they were done with dessert Joe offered to take Sofia out for a walk and she replied," I'd be delighted."